Consultation on changes to employment-related settlement

[teir12011]

there seems to be some noise in the tabloid this weekend, hope something useful.

[barabashka]

Well...my fingers are on a "send" button to apply for a Tier 2 visa. I have postponed it until the situation becomes clear.
Let's see what they come up with this week. If they do not pick me up for settlement, I am not going to pick them up to work there.
The employer is going to be furious...but every decision has its consequences!

[Sheffield_Marketeer]

I am really eager to see what the report says. We just got our Tier 2 and also buying a house. I wish they hadnt proposed to put the restrictions retrospectively, that's all!

[GSOtodd]

I think the government has made a mockery of itself (Labour and Tories). I understand the need to tighten the criteria but you don't invite or allow people in and then chew them up and spit them out. This is like inviting a friend over for a meal, deciding at the last minute you don't want their company and telling them to leave.

[dandm]

Looks like the announcement will be today, lots of hints out already:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/0 ... cy-wealthy

[sys_sagar]

Will this apply for applicants that come under JR as well. I m talking about minimum salary requirement for more than 31000 for settling in UK

[barabashka]

Looks like the announcement will be today, lots of hints out already:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/0 ... cy-wealthy

There is nothing new in what he said...What a pointless speech...
On a positive note, it looks like their "salary threshold" is going to be set to something closer to 31,000 than to 49,000...

BTW, does anyone know if the salary threshold is at the time of entrance or at the time of application for ILR?

[barabashka]

Will this apply for applicants that come under JR as well. I m talking about minimum salary requirement for more than 31000 for settling in UK

If JR is under Tier 2 General, the salary threshold probably will apply to it. But we are really speculating now - there was no real information in the announcement.

[Greenie]

Will this apply for applicants that come under JR as well. I m talking about minimum salary requirement for more than 31000 for settling in UK

read the information about the consultation at the beginning of the thread.

[Sheffield_Marketeer]

The wider population who seem to think that 'immigration' is a HUGE burden on the nation's resources- NHS etc, can be quite off the mark when it comes to some of the ideas they have of immigrants.

I do agree that immigration can be one of the reasons that the NHS is so short staffed, but to squarely blame it on immigrants is another thing.
Some of the misconceptions are glaring (check this article-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16850563).

Note comments made by points:
94. Immigration would soon balance out if the rules were

You have to live & WORK here for at least 3 years before you would be entitled to ANYhealthcare, benefits (inc' child benefits) or houses.
2) If you commit a crime in your first 10 years, you (& your family) WILL be removed.
Other EU countries do this, why not us?


AND

124. It's simple: a company must prove that a job cannot be taken by a British national before offering it to someone from elsewhere. This is what they do in the States and should be applied here (including for those form within the EU)

As immigrants, we do not have access to benefits unless ILR status is achieved AFTER 5 years of work and paying taxes. And the RMLT started recently is the new clause that beats this person's argument.
I really wish there was a way we could educate what being an immigrant means and its NOT just about landing in this country today and claiming benefits from tomorrow.

I came here in 2007 and have been working since then- paying my due tax. And in all my years here, I have had less than 6 visits to the doctors.

[hsmpengineer]

I have been in this country permanently since 2004 and havent cost the state a bean!!! I reckon i have made a maximum of 5 visits to the GP, and thats it!! My total support to the exchequer through university fees, income tax and NI contributions (not considering everything else, and yes theres loads i can add) is an £80k - my very conservative estimate...and visa renewals since i've been here have cost me about £3,500!!! lol...Even then lets face it i am still seen as a scrounger (all immigrants obviously are to some) and can be kicked out of the country at anytime to the loud applauds of the public. oh dear

[sheraz_aries]

Will this apply for applicants that come under JR as well. I m talking about minimum salary requirement for more than 31000 for settling in UK

read the information about the consultation at the beginning of the thread.

Any thoughts Greenie?

[Aryan2013]

Full speech:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-cent ... ation-work

"the legitimate question in today’s world is how can we benefit from immigration."

The simple answer is be honest to public, tell them the truth!!

[sheraz_aries]

Full speech:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-cent ... ation-work

"the legitimate question in today’s world is how can we benefit from immigration."

The simple answer is be honest to public, tell them the truth!!

Was just wondering he did not mention would it be applicable to new entrance or on those who already in uk in those categories

[Greenie]

please, please, read the beginning of this thread this was already discussed in detail before, nothing has changed.

[fomsand1]

Wow!, very very interesting. We all can only speculate what the outcome of this review will be and which category of visas this will affect. I know from history that they make some sort of provision for those already in the UK or those already on old schemes and that the policy on Immigration usually changes at the beginning of the fiscal year, usually April. But one thing that is certain here is that it will change. Now who it will affect or not is what remains unclear. On this basis, I can only say that prayers and unity of purpose is the only key. If all of us members on this forum are unified towards one cause like the JR guys (of which I believe we are far more than they were at the time), I strongly believe we will have a case.
Thumbs up if everyone is in support of this?

[Sheffield_Marketeer]

@fomsand1- What do you propose? and how do you propose to clarify the group's stand?

[GSOtodd]

What about the "resident labour market test being eased for high earners". What are they on about there? Does that mean that all jobs over the salary of 31,000 are exempt from the resident labour market test or only certain jobs that will be making a contribution. Surely if it was all jobs over 31,000 pounds a year, that wouldn't be getting the immigrant numbers down.

[GSOtodd]

Also, does Damian Green know what he is talking about anyway? He said that high earners will be exempt from the labour market test. Well, they already are exempt and also, they are exempt from the cap as well. Any job over the threshold of 150,000 is automatically exempt from having to be passed by the Labour Market test and are exempt from the cap. So, does Mr Green not know our immigration policies?

[Pandagon]

Wow!, very very interesting. We all can only speculate what the outcome of this review will be and which category of visas this will affect. I know from history that they make some sort of provision for those already in the UK or those already on old schemes and that the policy on Immigration usually changes at the beginning of the fiscal year, usually April. But one thing that is certain here is that it will change. Now who it will affect or not is what remains unclear. On this basis, I can only say that prayers and unity of purpose is the only key. If all of us members on this forum are unified towards one cause like the JR guys (of which I believe we are far more than they were at the time), I strongly believe we will have a case.
Thumbs up if everyone is in support of this?

Fomsand1, I'm onboard to protest if the changes impact those who are already here in a category that currently leads to ILR. Haven't fought a battle for a long time and one with the xenophobics are even more exhilarating!

If they retrospectively apply the new rules and demand those who entered the UK before April 2011 to meet the new conditions to be granted ILR, then they leave us with no choice but to unit and fight back all the way to the European court. Bring it on, more than in the fighting mode!

[Pandagon]

What about the "resident labour market test being eased for high earners". What are they on about there? Does that mean that all jobs over the salary of 31,000 are exempt from the resident labour market test or only certain jobs that will be making a contribution. Surely if it was all jobs over 31,000 pounds a year, that wouldn't be getting the immigrant numbers down.

I don't know where people get this £31,000 minimum number from. Dear Damien Green didn't for a second confirm 31k is the minimum threshold. In fact, he insisted 31k is the start of a 'range' to £49k, and the final policy is likely to set the minimum at a number between 31k and 49k. Even BBC journalists mis-construed what he outlined at the Policy Exchange in London.

Given that the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) loosely suggested a 35k figure a couple of month ago, it would be a leap of faith to think the Tory (NOT Labour or LD!) would lower the threshold to £31k. I personally think they would set the minimum at 40k at least with certain exceptions made to skilled workers in critical public sector jobs, such as scientists and nurses.

So the message for everyone should be getting ready for minimum 40k instead of holding onto your bare chance at 31k!

On another note, I really can't help wondering what the Tory plan to do with EU immigrants if they are serious at all about meeting their 'tens of thousands' target or achieving 'controllable" immigration levels in the future. These people can claim every single shilling a Brit is entitled to as soon as they show up on UK shores and are least likely to pay taxes given the kind of jobs they take. They stand in direct contrast/opposite to the new "Selectivity" and "Quality" principle D Green put forward.

More and more countries are joining the EU (especially the poorer and more populous ones, think Turkey!), even if all non-EU skilled workers leave the UK overnight, they still won't meet their target and immigration is still going to shoot over the roof! Except, this time the UK will be (well, already is!) swamped by extremely unskilled EU workers who repatriate all their earnings instead of skilled non-EU professionals who want to build a life here and contribute to the society.

[Agastya80]

Wow!, very very interesting. We all can only speculate what the outcome of this review will be and which category of visas this will affect. I know from history that they make some sort of provision for those already in the UK or those already on old schemes and that the policy on Immigration usually changes at the beginning of the fiscal year, usually April. But one thing that is certain here is that it will change. Now who it will affect or not is what remains unclear. On this basis, I can only say that prayers and unity of purpose is the only key. If all of us members on this forum are unified towards one cause like the JR guys (of which I believe we are far more than they were at the time), I strongly believe we will have a case.
Thumbs up if everyone is in support of this?

Hi, I am up for this cause.

[barabashka]

I don't know where people get this £31,000 minimum number from. Dear Damien Green didn't for a second confirm 31k is the minimum threshold. In fact, he insisted 31k is the start of a 'range' to £49k

You are right, they are not clear about that.
Moreover, at least to me it is not clear WHEN one has to meet the minimum salary requirement. In the consultations they wanted to decide on "temporary" (that do not lead to settlement) or "permanent" (that can lead to settlement) nature of visas at the time of entrance to UK. So, what if someone earns less than minimum at the entrance but more than minimum when he/she tries to apply for ILR?

On the other hand, what if someone earns more than minimum at the entrance but for one or another reason (lets say got ill) earns less than minimum later on when he/she applies for ILR...

[Nanjing612]

I can't help but feel very sad and angry about these changes. The UK has historically been a place where people could go to achieve a better life. Now, the UK has become a place where you can only stay if you somehow make the UK better. What they mean by 'quality of life', the fact that almost all the rules for settlement are bypassed if you have a very high net income, and the minimum salary requirements is simple: if you're not rich, or on the track to be upper-middle class then we don't want you'. i get the argument from their side, with all the migrants from the EU coming, all the other illegals etc, but from a strictly human rights perspective, it's pretty appalling. Their language requirements are well intended but poorly put into practice, too. All these reports of families being torn apart because one spouse doesn't speak English well enough are terrifying. I used to live in London, numerous times, and it was always clear to me that the city is lead by and catered to the rich. it's a shame that that is increasingly the case now as well as for the entire UK. i mean, fast tracking someone into settlement because they have a net value of millions of pounds or because they have a high salary? i don't know how some of these people sleep at night. i have a psw visa, but im currently in China. i was thinking of coming back to the UK but these changes are a major put off. i could contribute, too. i have a master's degree and a teaching certification. but what's the point if ill have to leave in 5 years? even if i found a job that paid the required amount, im sure they'd make yet another change in a few months to make it even harder to stay. they're going overboard with these changes. just my opinion.

[barabashka]

Well, I guess they do have the right to limit immigration, or even to stop it completely - if they think it is going to be better for the country.
What they do not have a right to do is to let people in on certain conditions, and then later on change the conditions.
For example, what are the conditions for people that come to UK on Tier 2 visa TODAY? No one knows...this is unacceptable.